Amongst conductors and orchestras world-wide Detlef Tewes’ name is synonymous with the virtuoso mandolin. He completed his studies with a performance diploma at the Cologne School of Music in 1989, as early as 1979 he had already won first prize in the German national competition „Jugend musiziert“ as well as the Culture Prize of the City Essen and, in 1983 another prize in the German Federal Republic’s 28th annual contest for „Young Soloists on the Podium“.